“I want to see our lives and our stories put out there,” said Toronto-based actor and playwright Joseph Jomo Pierre. The work of this self-proclaimed “Child of Hip Hop,” who was born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Scarborough, can currently be seen at Factory Theatre with Twisted (co-written with Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman—running until Feb. 22) and through the Piece of Mine Fest’s Black Men in Theatre showcase (Feb. 19-20).
As Toronto celebrates African Heritage Month, Joseph Jomo Pierre’s belief in the importance of telling black stories on main stages resonates well, especially for up-and-coming artists. “The fulfilling part for me, and part of the reason why I started writing, was because I wanted the young black kids coming out of high school to have this body of work on main stages as an inspiration for when they’re auditioning for university and have to refer to a major play. I want them to have access to material that represents us. It’s important for black kids coming up to be able to express themselves in a more honest way which is true to their experience” he said.
One of these young black talents he’s been working with on his current play Twisted, a contemporary spoken word and prose take on the Dickens classic, Oliver Twist, is Ryerson University theatre student Ngabo Nabea. Twisted is Ngabo’s first professional performance in Canada. After spending his childhood in Africa and Europe, he returned to the city of Toronto, where he had been born, to finish his studies.
Twisted is also a first for theatre veteran Joseph Jomo Pierre because the play marks the first time he’s ever co-written a piece. It’s also a departure because he usually acts in his plays. But this time, he’s giving Ngabo the actor’s driving seat. “Ngabo has an opportunity to be the lead in a play – at that, a black male play. So it’s easy for me to let go of it knowing that it’s achieved part of the goal in me creating the work in the first place,” as Joseph explained.
On the Process of Remounting a Classic Piece
When AfroToronto.com asked Joseph Jomo Pierre what the thought process was like approaching a classic Dickens piece to create a contemporary version, he said: “I never really get hung up with where the idea starts from. It’s just the jumping-off point for me. I’m not going to get hung up with trying to write Dickens or write stuff for people who love Dickens.”
His angle is to focus on working with people he wants to work with and then figure out how to make the story interesting. Moreover, he wants to take the time to understand what he’s writing, what he wants to say, and why it’s pertinent. “What’s the theme that, no matter what goes on, I’m going to fight to keep this play going?”
In Twisted, playwrights Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman and Joseph Jomo Pierre wanted to focus on the youth and their struggles. Joseph also made the narrative personal and relevant by making Oliver a mixed child and defining his struggle through the lens of his absentee mother.
“I had a friend who was adopting right around this time. He was adopting a child, and he explained to me how there are a lot of black kids in the system. But there aren’t that many black families that are adopting children. So right there, I was like, okay, that’s something that I can touch on. It was also a message that I could put out there for the black community — on a subject which we may not be engaged with, and start a conversation,” as Joseph explained.
Building a Theatre Legacy in the Community
In response to our question about the relationship between Toronto’s black community and the city’s theatre scene, Joseph said, “It’s an interesting battle.” He feels that the community’s relationship with the arts happens on two levels. On the one hand, there’s a strong independent scene background and history, expressed in high school, local, and church plays that go up for two days, for instance, in the West Indian and African communities.
“That becomes what we relate to as our expression. And because there’s this disconnect with what’s happening outside of that – like what’s happening in the mainstream – for me, it’s been a battle,” said Joseph.
The struggle comes in the form of his efforts to break down some of those barriers so that our work is done downtown and on main stages. The other objective is to ensure that our work is seen as a representation of Canadian expression.
“So I think the battle is trying to get that message to the community that it doesn’t have to be something that’s small and independent to be something that we can rally around. And say yes, I want to see more of this. Yes, I want to see our lives and our stories put out there,” said Joseph.
In an effort to build that legacy, the Piece of Mine Festival will feature the work of seven black contemporary playwrights at a special tribute, Black Men in Theater, taking place this Thursday and Friday (Feb. 19-20) at 918 Bathurst. The playwrights, including Joseph Jomo Pierre, will showcase new works in development.
INFO ON BOTH SHOWS:
TWISTED
Written by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman and Joseph Jomo Pierre
Directed by Nigel Shawn Williams
Starring Susanna Fournier and Ngabo Nabea
Set Designer: Denyse Karn • Composer: Hagler
Lighting Designer: Simon Rossiter • Projections/Video Designer: Simeon Taole
Sound Designer: Richard Lee • Costume Designer: Michelle Bailey
Factory, 125 Bathurst Street (at Adelaide)
Run Dates: January 31 to February 22, 2015
Opening Night: Thursday, February 5, 2015 @ 8pm
Media Night: February 6, 2015
Tuesday - Saturday @ 8pm • Sundays @ 2pm
Ticket prices range from $23-$45 (plus applicable service charges) and can be purchased online at www.factorytheatre.ca or by calling 416.504.9971
Student/Senior/Arts Worker discounts and Pay-What-You-Can Sunday Matinee tickets available
BLACK MEN IN THEATRE
In celebration of Black Legacy Month, 918 Bathurst presents the PIECE of MINE Festival for a special tribute to Black Men in Theatre. We are excited to feature 7 contemporary playwrights showcasing new works-in-development. Audiences can expect a range of content, from paternal relationships to historical revolution to self-discovery. Join us on Thursday, February 19 or Friday, February 20 for a solid line-up of home-grown talent!
918 Bathurst , 918 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5R 3G5
Featured Playwrights
Araya Mengesha - Incognito
Chevy 'X' - Ayiti
Jordan Laffrenier - Arbor
Joseph 'Jomo' Pierre - Broke Boys & NewArtful
Leighton Alexander Williams - The Shipment
Luke Reece - Point Five
Troy Crossfield - Something to Offer
*The presentation is the same both nights
Doors open at 7:00pm | Show time 7:30 - 10:00pm
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, purchase early to save!
The PIECE of MINE Festival (POMF) platforms work-in-development from emerging to established career level black artists. The festival is about validating and celebrating the black experience. We present plays that are electric, poetic, personal and political in front of a connected audience.
For more information please email
